Start-Up NY Approval Board Chair Andrew Kennedy, a Cuomo economic development aide, said only two private colleges were on Tuesday's agenda, but "we've gotten many SUNY plans approved as well. We're going to be having jobs and projects and people being hired in the very near future."

The approvals voted on Tuesday bring to 19 the total number of colleges and universities now in the program. The private college locations approved Tuesday included:

The program waives all taxes on businesses that are 100 percent located in a tax-free zone on a public or private college campus.

Other taxes waived include the MTA commuter tax, sales and use taxes, real estate and property transfer taxes and local personal income taxes.

Eligible businesses must be a new company in New York state, an out of state business relocating here, or an expanding business. They must also create jobs in the first year and their business activities should align with the mission of the college or university.

Business groups have criticized the program, saying broad-based tax relief is what is needed to create jobs in New York. But Cuomo says the program is another tool to try to expand jobs and economic opportunity, particularly in upstate regions where businesses and jobs have steadily eroded for decades.